That made me curious what’s actually behind all that attention (especially around their new AI co-builder), so I decided to test it myself.

I tried to build a real app using the AI builder to see how far you can actually get.

In this Softr review, I’ll walk you through what this AI app-building platform really offers and how it performs in practice.

Let’s dive in!

What is Softr?

Softr is an AI app builder designed for creating business apps, not just simple prototypes.

Instead of generating code, it combines a built-in database, a visual interface builder, and an AI co-builder that helps set up the app structure. You describe what you want, and Softr generates the database, pages, and basic logic.

You can use Softr’s own database or connect external sources like Airtable or Google Sheets, then map that data to the interface using pre-built blocks. It also includes user authentication, role-based access, workflows, and integrations.

All of this works within the same system, so you don’t need to rely on multiple tools to manage data, users, and automation separately.

In practice, Softr is typically used for building client portals, internal tools, and similar data-driven apps, especially by non-technical teams.

Scroll down to see how it actually worked in the course of my Softr review.

Key features

Now let’s take a closer look at the key features I tried during my Softr review!

Dashboard

Before you even start building, Softr drops you into a clean dashboard where you manage your apps and decide how you want to create a new one.

You are presented with three clear options: start from scratch, use a template, or generate your app with AI.

For this review, I focused on the AI route, but it’s worth noting that Softr doesn’t lock you into a single approach. You can just as easily start from a template or build everything manually.

What’s nice here is that the structure of the tool is already visible from the start. The left sidebar gives you access to Apps, Databases, Workflows, Forms, and Integrations. This hints at how Softr thinks about building apps: not just as pages, but as connected systems powered by data and logic.

AI Co-builder

The AI Co-builder is clearly the main focus of Softr right now, and the reason it’s showing up on so many “AI app builders” lists. I’ll say it straight – I had a very positive experience with it.

In my case, I started with a simple prompt about building a website for productivity apps, and instead of expecting detailed input, the AI guided me through the rest with a series of smart follow-up questions about things like user roles, authentication settings, navigation layout, and website theme.

Based on that, it didn’t just generate a rough layout, but mapped out the entire app structure.

One of the coolest parts is that you can actually follow what the AI is doing. As it builds the app, Softr shows a step-by-step “Applying updates” flow, like creating core database tables, defining relationships between them, and generating realistic sample data across all tables.

This isn’t just backend setup either. At the same time, Softr builds the interface: listing pages with search and filters, detail pages for apps and collections, and even pre-configured actions like adding new items or triggering AI edits. It also sets up things like authentication (user roles, login options) and basic navigation, so the app already behaves like a real product.

What surprised me most was that the AI generated a complete app after just a couple of minutes. I could immediately preview the app, switch between user and admin views, and start interacting with it right away. The app I got was fully functional, with real data, permissions, and structure.

From here, the process was about refining something that already worked. For use cases like directories, internal tools, or content hubs, this can easily save hours of setup time.

Editing & customization

If you do want to make changes, you can simply click on any block in the interface and tell the AI what you want to change. You can also attach an image or screenshot and show exactly what kind of update you have in mind. To me, it was like giving feedback to a designer rather than configuring a tool manually.

If you prefer more control, Softr also includes a visual builder, similar to a traditional no-code editor.

By clicking on blocks, you can adjust layout, styling, visibility rules, and content. This includes things like showing or hiding elements based on user roles, changing how data is displayed, or refining the overall look and structure of a page.

With vibe coding block, you can build anything that doesn’t come with Softr’s predefined building blocks. Anywhere from complex dashboard, calculator, countdown, to CSV import. Vibe coding block also allows CRUD actions.

Furthermore, in the case of complex solutions, the AI co-builder will automatically suggest and start building the solution using the Vibe coding block.

That being said, I appreciated how I could switch between AI editing and manual adjustments depending on what I needed in the moment.

You can also go beyond individual blocks and edit entire pages, navigation, and themes, so changes aren’t limited to small tweaks but can affect the overall structure and feel of your app.

Beyond editing, I appreciated that I could also use the AI to troubleshoot issues as I was building. When something didn’t work the way I expected, I could ask what was happening, why something wasn’t showing, or how to fix it, and it would walk me through it in a very clear way.

I also noticed that it isn’t limited to English, so I was able to interact with it in my native language, which made the whole experience feel even more natural.

Databases

This is where Softr really starts, since everything you build is powered by a database.

Unlike traditional website builders, Softr doesn’t store content directly on pages. Instead, it uses a database and turns that data into a working app interface. The database itself is visual and structured like a spreadsheet, but with relationships between tables, which makes it easier to understand even if you’re not technical.

In my case, the AI automatically created structured tables like Users, Apps, and Reviews, along with the relationships between them. That’s what makes things like filtering, user roles, and dynamic content work in the first place.

Softr comes with its own built-in database, which is the simplest option if you’re starting from scratch. You can also connect 14+ data sources like Google Sheets or Airtable, but the native database is more integrated with the rest of the platform.

Once your data is set up, everything else – pages, layouts, and permissions – builds on top of it. The database isn’t just a supporting layer either. You can use it on its own to manage and structure data, similar to tools like Airtable, without building a full app around it.

Users & permissions

One thing Softr handles very early in the process is users and permissions.

As I mentioned, even during the AI setup, you’re asked who the app is for and what different users should be able to see or do. Based on that, Softr already defines user roles and access rules before the app is even generated.

This matters more than it might seem at first. In most tools, setting up authentication, roles, and permissions is one of the more complex parts. Here, a lot of that is already structured for you from the beginning.

Once the app is created, you can see and manage everything inside the Users section. You can define different user groups (for example, admin vs regular user), control what each group can access, and adjust permissions at both the page and block level.

For example, you can show certain pages only to logged-in users, restrict specific data to individual users, or make parts of the interface visible only to admins.

It also handles the basics out of the box, like login, signup, and password reset pages, so you don’t have to build those yourself.

What I found useful is that all of this is visual. You don’t need to think in terms of code or logic, as you can actually see who has access to what and adjust it directly in the interface. This also means non-technical teams can manage and update the app without relying on developers.

Workflows & automation

Another part of Softr that stood out is workflows, built-in automation that connects your app, data, and external tools.

Instead of relying on tools like Zapier or Make, Softr includes its own workflow builder where you can automate actions based on events in your app or database.

For example, you can trigger actions when a new record is created, a user signs up, a form is submitted, data is updated, and so on.

From there, you can define what happens next, whether it’s sending emails, updating records, or triggering actions in other tools.

What’s important here is that workflows are directly connected to your app and database. You’re not setting up automation separately – because it’s part of the same system.

You can also build more complex logic using conditions, filters, delays, and branching steps, depending on how your app needs to behave.

Taken together, this means you’re not just building an app, but running your entire system (data, users, and automation) in one place.

Softr integrations

Softr supports a wide range of integrations, both for data and external tools.

The main data sources include Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, HubSpot, SQL databases, Supabase, and Softr’s own database. You can also connect via REST API for more flexibility if you’re working with custom setups. In practice, this means you can plug Softr into almost any system you already use, with real-time, two-way data sync.

It also supports integrations for automation, payments, and analytics. This includes tools like Zapier, n8n, and Make for workflows, as well as Stripe, Google Analytics, and other third-party services.

Softr user interface

Softr’s interface is clean and structured, and it reflects how the platform works as a whole.

Instead of focusing only on pages, the UI is organized around key parts of the system like Interface, Data, Users, and Workflows. This makes it clear that you’re not just designing screens, but working with a full app setup that includes data, logic, and user management.

Most actions are visual and happen directly in the interface. You can edit blocks, manage data, adjust permissions, and configure workflows without dealing with code.

There are a lot of options, but they’re organized in a way that makes them easy to navigate once you get familiar with the layout.

My experience with Softr

The first time I used Softr’s AI co-builder, I put in very little time and effort, yet still ended up with something I could actually use and keep working on.

And that’s exactly what stood out to me – it’s not just about building the app, but maintaining it over time. Making changes, adding new data or users, and adjusting how things work all felt manageable on my own, which is where Softr starts to make more sense as a long-term solution.

I realized that Softr provides a different experience than other vibe coding tools like Lovable, Replit, and more. That said, Softr assembles state-of-the-art building blocks and uses vibe coding when you need something custom, rather than generating code from scratch.

Furthermore, something as simple as changing a UI behavior can take multiple prompts and hours of debugging on other platforms, whereas it takes just a few clicks with Softr. I appreciated that it removes the hardest parts of app building that slow teams down: hosting, role-based access and permissions built in, and enterprise-grade security.

In the case of Softr, the database is not a black box compared to other vibe coding tools, but provides a visual, spreadsheet-style relational database that even a non-technical person can fully own, see, edit, and scale.

Finally, it made a good impression on me that it has advanced features for built-in workflow automation, and you can easily power your apps with multiple data sources.

Softr pricing

Softr has a free plan and four paid plans.

Free plan

The free plan includes 10 app users, 5,000 database records, and 500 workflow actions, along with 5 AI credits, and unlimited apps you can publish in your workspace. It’s suitable for testing or small internal use, but comes with clear limitations.

Basic plan

The Basic plan, at $49/month, includes 20 users, 50,000 database records, and 2,500 workflow actions. It also adds 10 AI credits, custom domains, and removes most of the basic limitations from the free plan, but it’s still relatively limited in terms of scale.

Professional plan

The Professional plan, at $139/month, includes 100 users, 500,000 database records, and 10,000 workflow actions, along with 50 AI credits. It also introduces more advanced capabilities like custom user groups (up to 3) and additional features such as API actions, charts, calendars, and more advanced blocks. If you need more users, you can add them at $10 per 10 users per month.

Business plan

The Business plan, at $269/month, is designed for larger and more complex apps. It includes 500 users, 1M database records, and 25,000 workflow actions, along with 100 AI credits and unlimited user groups. It also supports more advanced data sources and features like SQL databases, REST API, and expanded permissions.

Enterprise plan

There is also an Enterprise plan with custom pricing. It includes everything from Business, plus features like SSO (SAML/OpenID), custom usage limits, advanced security (such as IP blocking), audit logging, and dedicated support.

Pros and cons I discovered during my Softr review

Here, I summarize the pros and cons I found throughout my Softr review.

Pros of Softr

Cons of Softr

Who Would be a Good Fit for Softr?

Softr is a good fit for non-technical users and teams who want to build real, data-driven apps they can actually use and maintain.

It works especially well for use cases like client portals, internal tools, and operational systems, where you need structured data, user roles, and permissions from the start. If you’re looking to build something that your team or clients will actually use, not just test, Softr makes that much easier.

It’s also a strong option if you want to replace multiple tools and manage everything in one place, instead of relying on separate solutions for your database, automation, and frontend.

Who Would be a Bad Fit for Softr?

Softr might not be the best fit if you’re looking for full flexibility or a highly custom frontend design.

If your focus is on building pixel-perfect interfaces, complex custom logic, or fully custom-coded apps, you may find it limiting compared to traditional development.

It’s also not ideal if you just want to quickly prototype ideas without thinking about structure.

Wrap up: Softr review

Softr is clearly positioning itself as more than just another AI app builder in the no-code space, and after testing it, that direction makes sense.

Instead of focusing only on speed or quick prototypes, it’s built around creating apps that actually work in practice, with data, users, permissions, and workflows already handled. That’s what puts it closer to a complete system than a typical builder.

Overall, Softr makes the most sense for non-technical users and teams who want to build internal tools, client portals, or similar data-driven apps they can actually run and maintain long-term.

As always, I will update this Softr review over time so you guys have up-to-date information about this no-code platform.

Why you can trust our reviews

At thebusinessdive.com, our team tests, reviews, and compares hundreds of productivity apps every year — from project management tools to note-taking apps. We dive deep into real-world use cases to help you find the right tools that actually improve your workflow, not just add noise.

Our mission? No fluff, no shortcuts—just honest, hands-on insights from productivity pros.

Discover how we stay transparent, read our review methodology, and let us know about any tools we missed.

Frequently asked questions

What is Softr.io used for?

Softr is used for building data-driven web apps like client portals, internal tools, and internal business systems. Instead of static websites, it focuses on apps that work with real data, user accounts, and permissions.

Can I use Softr for free?

Yes, Softr has a free plan you can use to test the platform and build a basic app. It’s enough to explore the core features, but it comes with limitations, so you’ll likely need a paid plan for anything more advanced or client-facing.

Is Softr good for beginners?

Yes, but with a small learning curve. The interface is visual and doesn’t require coding, which makes it beginner-friendly. At the same time, since you’re working with data, users, and permissions, it takes a bit of time to understand how everything fits together.

Aron Kantor

Hey there! I am Aron, the founder of Thebusinessdive. I have been testing productivity apps for almost three years now. I reach 25.000 -50.000 people monthly with the mission to help you find the perfect productivity apps. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, newsletter, and social media to hear more about the best productivity tools. Let’s dive in!

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